Trimming A Jig Skirt

[WdyCrankbait]

Hey everyone,

    I am trying to get better fishing a jig.  (You really can't go any lower then where I am at now.)  But, I wanted to ask about trimming the skirts on a jig.  I have had people tell me dont, trim at an angle towards to the hook, and seen online to trim short.  Any help suggestions are greatly appreciated!

    I will be skipping docks and flipping these jigs, if that helps.  Really, I can't catch a fish on a jig to save my life.  

Wdy

[HookdUP]

If your cant catch a fish on one my first tip is to swim a jig ... There's no guessing in the strike and a more typically used retrieves associated with reaction baits are used .. Just my .02

[Turtle135]

Search Youtube for "How Denny Brauer Modifies his Bass Fishing Jig". I listen very closely whenever Denny (or Greg Hackney) talk about jig fishing. He covers when, why and how he trims the skirts in that video.

 

I follow suit, in cold water I frequently want a smaller profile and in the summer I want a big profile.

[kikstand454]

You want to catch a fish on a jig. ... take nothing but a jig until you catch them. The jig is versatile enough to fish in almost any condition.

Once you catch a few, a light will turn on and you'll go "....oh. ....I get it now! " and you'll have one tied on every time you go.

And I trim my jig skirts even with the back of my hook almost all the time.

In the middle of summer when fishing a football jig in deep water, I prefer a big profile- and leave it be.

[WdyCrankbait]

I assume swim jigs are good for year round?

 

Thanks, I will check out those videos and see what they saw and will keep in mind about trimming skirts from fall to summer.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Most of mine are at about 1/2-3/4" past the hook. 

[roadwarrior]

Swim jig = spinnerbait without blades

 

Fish it where a crankbait or spinnerbait is another option.

I impart no action on the jig, just depth. The trailer is key.

Suggestions are the Rage Structure Bug, Menace and

Shellcracker; GYCB Swim Senko, Keitech Swing Impact

Fat or your favorite paddletail.

 

 

 

[smalljaw67]

In order to get good fishing a jig, you need to catch a fish on it to gain confidence which will then lead to more fish. First thing I do when teaching someone, like my grandson for instance, to fish a jig is to start off with a small 1/4 jig or a finesse jig, the reason why is jigs are a big fish bait, not a numbers bait and you'll get more bites with a smaller jig. For me trimming the skirt depends on the fish, and your trailer, if you are using a large jig with a big body trailer then you won't want to trim the skirt but say you are using the same jig with a zoom super chunk to make it more compact, then you may want to trim the skirt back so the trailer will be more visible. There are a lot of variables and it comes when you learn more but if you want a good length that you don't need to worry over, 3/4" beyond the hook bend, that is long enough for action but short enough for your trailer to be visible.

[rippin-lips]

I pull the skirt down and trim it evenly straight across. It's usually only about an 1/8"

[WRB]

There is a good new thread on how to fish a jig on this forum page.

Catt states to fish a jig like you fish your T-rigged worm, good advice.

You really don't need to trim most off the shelf jig skirts, they should be cut about a finger width behind the hook bend, unless it's a hair jig and you don't trim those.

If you plan on skipping a jig under docks, then use a beaver style trailer, otherwise use a twin tail style trailer for better action.

The easiest jig to learn is a spider style jig; Yamamoto 4" twin tail hula grub on a plain painted jig head, no skirt to trim.

Tom